“A great teacher and a good Christian man,” is how Bell High School principal Rick Reed describes District Teacher of the Year Gray Smith. Reed should know, since he began working with Smith back in the early 80s.
“Back then he had hair!” Reed said on Monday, just before Bell High School’s Teacher of the Year was named the District Teacher of the Year.
While Smith spends his days teaching scientific methods to middle and high school students at BHS, his after hours are also spent working with kids through the school’s 21st Century After School Program.
“He’s an exceptional teacher!” Reed said.
While accepting the award, Smith turned to members of the Trenton Rotary Club and thanked them for sponsoring the annual District Teacher of the Year and Employee of the Year awards.

Pictured back row, left to right: Sherry Lindsey, June Hutto, Michelle Smith, Lynsey Grant, Lynette Langford, Diana Manders, Rick Reed, Gray Smith, Don Thomas and Linda Keyton. Front row, left to right:
Eileen Mauldin, Minnie Stalvey, Rayanne Ferguson, Misty Blackford and BillieJo Bible

“Like many of your professions, we don’t get recognized often,” Smith said. “I just want to say thank you; this really is a special treat for all of us.”
Smith was selected District Teacher of the Year after being interviewed by a panel of out-of-county judges, who also interviewed the teachers of the year from the other three schools in the county. Bell Elementary School was represented by Teacher of the Year June Hutto, who is a 5th grade teacher at BES and mother of four. According to principal Sherry Lindsey, Hutto lives the saying “No excuses; every child can learn.” Trenton Elementary School was represented by Teacher of the Year Lynsey Grant. Grant is a fourth grade teacher at TES, and according to assistant principal Michelle Smith she is the first in line to volunteer when something needs to be done at the school. Diana Manders represented Trenton High School as Teacher of the Year. According to principal Lynette Langford, Manders has a special talent for teaching ESE students.
In winning District Teacher of the Year, Gray was awarded a plaque and a $500 check from Saint Leo University.
Bell Elementary School’s Eileen Mauldin was selected District Employee of the Year. According to principal Sherry Lindsey, Mauldin is a shining example of perseverance and dedication as she battles cancer and continues working with the school’s ESE students.
“Ms. Eileen is a very caring person,” Lindsey said. “She schedules her work around her cancer treatments.”
After opening the sealed envelope, which announced Mauldin as the winner, superintendent Don Thomas thanked Mauldin for her dedication, saying that school district officials know the personal struggles she is dealing with, and despite the obstacles Mauldin does a super job at Bell Elementary.
Mauldin was chosen District Employee of the Year from a group of dedicated Employees of the Year representing area schools and the district office. Employee of the Year Minnie Stalvey represented Trenton Elementary School. Stalvey has worked at TES for 10 years and according to assistant principal Michelle Smith, she could have 10 titles behind her official job title, which is media clerk. Rayanne Ferguson was selected Trenton High School’s Employee of the Year. According to principal Lynette Langford, Ferguson has worked as a guidance clerk for 14 years and is a staple in the front office. Misty Blackford is also wonderful in the front office of Bell High School, according to principal Rick Reed. Blackford was selected Employee of the Year at BHS because she is not only a guidance clerk, but she also covers classes for teachers and handles lunch duty for the middle school students. BillieJo Bible was selected Employee of the Year at the district office. According to Linda Keyton, human resources director at the school district, Bible is well liked around the office and known for her work effort and organizational skills.
District Employee of the Year Eileen Mauldin received a plaque and a $250 check from V & I Maintenance Corp.